County of Santa Clara Agriculture Revenues Exceed $295 Million
Mushrooms ranked #1 for first time, exceeding $82 million
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The County of Santa Clara’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency has published the 2018 Santa Clara County Crop Report highlighting agriculture production and revenues valued at $295,363,000.
“Agriculture remains a strong economic driver in Santa Clara County,” said Supervisor Mike Wasserman. “Our farmers continue to be innovative and strategic in producing high yields from the region’s excellent soil.”
Mushrooms became the county’s top agricultural product in 2018, with $82,511,000 in revenues, a 10.5% increase from 2017. The county’s other top producers for 2018 were nursery crops ($80,776,000), lettuce ($17,559,000), bell peppers ($14,610,000), wine grapes ($10,658,000), and fresh tomatoes ($10,573,000).
This past year, 21 different agricultural commodities grown in Santa Clara County exceeded $1,000,000 in value, with hay and grain moving onto the list. Spinach and cherries were both top 10 crops in 2017, but both saw production fall by more than $10 million in 2018. Overall agriculture revenues were down 6.7%.
“Mushroom production brought a strong price for producers in 2018,” said Joe Deviney, Commissioner of Agriculture. “Our weather is ideal for so many crops, but there are still variables that can’t be controlled. Mushrooms aren’t reliant on weather and produce year-round.”
The report features our diverse range of nursery crops. As the county’s number two crop, nurseries crops include flowers, foliage, grasses, boutique plants, shrubs and trees, sold in both retail and wholesale markets. Many of these plants make their way to local nurseries.
“Knowing our lands produce commodities that are also purchased locally adds to the economic viability of crop production in Santa Clara County,” said Supervisor Dave Cortese.
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About the County of Santa Clara, California
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the sixth largest county in California. With a $8.17 billion budget, more than 70 agencies/departments and nearly 22,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, offers quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services, including public health and environmental protection; behavioral health and medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System including Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (Hospital and Clinics), O’Connor Hospital and Saint Louise Regional Hospital; child and adult protection services; homelessness prevention and solutions; roads, parks and libraries; emergency response to disasters; protection of minority communities and those under threat; access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.
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Media Contact Roger Ross, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, (408) 568-3122.
Posted: September 24, 2019.